Toaster



2 Sheds-Sheet 1 born e3.

Inventor 1 Harrg W. Uhlri g, 3 29 a: His A2 lla TOASTER Filed Sept. 15,1939 FLQJ.

H. w. UHLRIG May 6, 1941.

Patented May 6, 1941 TOASTER Barry W. Uhlrig, Stratford, com, asslgllol'to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York ApplicationSeptember 15, 1939, Serial No. 295,06

6 Claims.

Q This invention relates to toasters, more particularly to electricallyheated bread toasters,

v and it has for its object the provision ofan improved device of thischaracter.

This. invention is particularly applicable toautomatic bread toasterswherein a timing mechanism is used to measure the toasting interval andcause the ejection of the toasted slice from the heating chamber at theproper time, and it contemplates an improved control in a toaster ofthis character.

This invention is particularly applicable to automatic toasters such asdescribed and claimed in the copending application of Heber L. Newell,Serial No. 225,329, filed August 17, 1938, now

' Patent No. 2,217,450, and assigned to the same assignee as thisapplication. As there described, the Newell toaster is provided with aslice holder which is movable between toasting and nontoastingpositions.An operating member is provided for moving the slice holder to thetoasting position. The operating member as it moves the slice holder tothe toasting position engages a part or the timing mechanism to energizethe timing mechanism so that it may function to time the toastinginterval. When the bread tray reaches its toasting position theoperating member and tray are released from the timing mechanism and areheld in their toasting positions by means of suitable locking means.This invention contemplates the provision of an improved organization ofparts which positively insures the release of the timing mechanism fromthe operating member and tray when these members have been moved totheir toasting positions. 4

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should behad to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofan electric toaster embodying this invention, parts being shown insection and parts broken away so as to illustrate certain details ofconstruction; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the line2--2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating certain partsofthe toaster in different operative positions; Fig 4 is a fragmentaryvertical sectional view taken through the line 4-4 of Fig. 3

andlooking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5

is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a portion of the mechanismshown in Fig. 3'but showing certain of the parts in different operativepositions; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a part ofthe control mechanism of the of Figs. 17 and Fig. 7 is an enlarged ofthe mechanism shown in Fig. 6.

fragmentary sectional view taken through a part slice is elected at theend of a predetermined in-.

terval of time. This toaster comprises a pair of heating chambers 10spaced apart cross-wise of. the toaster, and which are defined by a rearwall I l, a pair of side walls I2, and a front wall l3. It will beunderstood that each heating chamber will be provided with a pair oi!spaced heating elements l4 forapplying heat to the chambers. The heatingelements I4 may be of any suitable type, but preferably will beprovidedwith a resistance conductor l5 supported on a suitablevertically positioned sheet iii of insulating material, such as mica. vThe walls H, [2 and i3 defining the heating chambers and the heatingelements 14 are supported on a suitable base II which has a top wall "athat defines the bottom of the heating chambers. The heating elementsare surrounded by a casing l8, which as shown is of substantiallyrectangular form having side walls I841, front and rear walls I81). anda top wall l8c. This casing is proi ect forwardly through the front wallI 3. Therear ends of the slice-holders I! are provided with extensions|9a that are received in vertical slots l9b provided for'them in therear wall ll of the heating chambers.

The carriage 20, as shown, is provided with a vertical front plate 2 laandwith rearwardly extending flanges 22 at the sides of the front plate.The slice-holders I 9, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1, are directlyconnected to these flanges.

It will be observed that the front wall ll of the heating chambers isspaced to the rear of the front wall ill) of the casing it so as todefine a chamber 23 that houses the carria e 20. Fixed within thischamber a is a vertically positioned rod 24 upon which the carriage 20is slidably chamber i0 is a suitmounted. As'shown, the carriage isprovided at its upper and lower edges with'rearwardly extending portions28 which are rigidly attached to collars or bushings 28 (Fig. 6) thatare slidably mounted on the rod 24. The rod 24 at its lower end issecured to the top wall, l1a of the base l1 by means of a screw 21 (Fig.6), and at its top is secured to a bracket 28 by means of a screw 28.The bracket 28 is supported by the walls of the heating chambers.

An actuating knob or handle 38 is connected to the carriage 28. Thishandle, as shown, is positioned in front of the front wall I81), and iscon-v nected with the carriage by a tongue 38a which, as shown, projectsthrough a vertical slot 3| pro;

vided for it in the front wall i817. The tongue 38a connects the handle38 directly with a platelike bracket-32 which is mounted on the plate28... The bracket 32 is provided at its upper end with tongues '33 whichare pivoted to the front wall 2: of the plate 28. At its lower end thefront plate Zia carries a stop member 38 for limiting the swingingmovement of the bracket plate 32 away from the wall 2| a. The bracket 32carries an elongated resilient latch member 31. This latch member 31, asshown, is in the form of an elongated spring bar having one end, itslefthand end as viewed in Fig. 2, rigidly secured to a foot 31'extending out horizontally from the bracket 32. The opposite end of theresilient bar is free to move or flex. The movement of this oppositeend, however, is limited by a stop member 31a through which the free endpassm, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. This free end of the latchmember is adapted to be engaged by a suitable elongated pivoted catchmember 38. The pivoted catch member 38 functions to engage the free endof the latch 31 to hold the carriage 28, and hence, the slice-holders I!in their lower or toasting positions against the force of a suitabletension spring 38 which biases the carriage and the slice-holders totheir upper or non-toasting positions. As shown in Fig. 1, the springhas its lower end secured to the carriage,

and has its upper end anchored to a bracket 48 secured in the top of thechamber 23. The catch 38 is biased in a counter-clockwise direction toits locking position by means of a spring 38a, in which position itengages the spring latch 31, as shown in Figs.3, 4 and 5.

.A cam 4| is provided to operate the catch 38 to release the springlatch 31 and hence the carriage 28 and theslice-holders attached to itat the proper time. For this purpose, the upper end of the catch 38 isprovided with an abutment 42 positioned to be engaged by the -cam 4|.The cam 4| is pivotally mounted on a bracket 43. The bracket carries astop 44 which is adapted to be engaged by abutments 44a and 44b on thecam to limitits pivotal movement.

The cam 4| is operated to release the catch 38 from the resilient latch31 at theend of the toasting interval by a suitable clockwork mechanism48 mounted in the front chamber 23. The clockwork mechanism preferablywill be of the spring-wound type and may have any's'uitableconstruction. It is provided witha winding shaft 48a upon which ismounted a spur gear 48 with which cooperates a winding rack 41. It willbe understood that when the winding rack is moved downwardly, as viewedin the drawings, it rotateg the winding shaft 480 to wind the clockspring, and that when the rack is releasedin its lower positiomthe clockwill be free to unwind,

and as itdoes so. will elevate the rack to its initial-upper position.

The rack 41 at its lower end carries an abutment 48 which when the rack-is elevated by the unwinding action of the clock engages the cam 4| torotate it in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, tocause it to engage the abutment 42 on the catch 38 and thereby move thecatch to release the spring latch 31.

The carriage 28 has an operable connection with the winding rack 41 sothat when the knob 38 is depressed to move the slice-holders to theirtoasting positions, the rack likewise will be depressed to wind theclock. For this purpose, a

' suitable pawl or latch 48 is pivoted on the carriage. As shown moreclearly in Figs. 3 and 5, the carriage is provided with a stop 88 whichlimits the counter-clockwise movement of the pawl 48, the stop 88 beingpositioned to engage an exso that when the carriage is moved downwardly,

, the winding rack is also moved downwardly to wind the clock.

pawl in a clockwise direction so as to remove it from the abutment 48.When the carriage 28 has been moved to its lower toasting position, asshown in Figs. 4 and 5, so that the latch 31 is engaged by the catch 38,the spring abutment 84 engages the pawl 49 to release it from theabutment 48. To positively insure this release of the pawl 49 from theabutment 48, the resilient latch 31 and its stop members 31a providesfor a slight upward movement of the carriage toward its nontoastingposition, that is, it provides for a slight movement of the carriagefrom its lowest position of Fig. 5 to a slightly elevated lower positionshown in Fig. 3, This relieves the pressure of the pawl 38 on theabutment 48 and permits the spring abutment 84 to positively move itaway from the abutment 48. The spring latch 31 thereby obviates thepossibility that the winding rack and carriage both will be locked intheir lower positions.

The downward movement of the carriage 28 to its toasting position alsoserves to automatically close the energizing circuit of the heatingelements l4 of the toaster. For this purpose, spacedapart fixed contacts88' are mounted in the top wall l1a of the base l1. These spaced fixedcontacts are connected in the energizing circuit of the toasting heatingelements l4, They are adapted to be bridged by a bridging contact 88 i.which is carried directly by the carriage by means of a resilient arm81. It will be understood that the contact 88 will be electricallyinsulated from the arm 81 in any suitable manner, and likewise that thefixed contacts 88 will be electrically insulated from the base in anysuitable manner.- The bridging contact is so positioned that when thecarriage is lowered to itstoasting position it will bridge the spacedfixed contacts 88 and thereby complete the energizing circuit ofthetoaster.

. When the carriage is released at the end of the toasting operationitwill open the toaster circuit 65 in the top wall will then bedepressed.

I the catch 38 will engage tion, its abutment at the same .time that itmoves the bread slices from the heating chamber.

A suitable dash pot is provided to cushion the upward movement of thecarriage and slice-holders. As shown, more clearly in Fig. 6, thecarriage 20 supports a suitable dash pot cylinder 58 between the collars26 so that the cylinder 58 is moved upwardly and downwardly with thecarriage as it moves upwardly and downwardly. Fixed upon the verticalshaft or rod 24 is a dash pot piston 59 comprising a cuppedfl'exible'washer 50, preferably formed of leather. The cupped washer hasa base section which is sandwiched between metallic washer-like members62. These members 52 are held in their positions on oppo-,

site sides of the base. 6| by ring-like clamping members 63 tightlyfitted into grooves 64 pro-.

vided for them in the rod 24. It will be understood that when thecarriage moves downwardly, the cylinder 55 likewise moves downwardly andthat the washer 5|! collapses to permit air in the upper part of thecylinder to move to the lower part of the cylinder. However, when thecarriage is released and the cylinder moves upwardly, the air in thelower end of the cylinder in attempting to pass the cupped washer 5|will force it outwardly tightly against the inner walls of the cylinder58. This air leaks out comparatively slowly from the clearance openingbetween the lower collar 25 and the rod 24, and thereby cushions themovement of the carriage and slice-- holders. In addition, a vacuum isproduced on the upper side of the piston which adds considerably to thedash pot action.

The carriage is provided with an'extensipn 65 at its lower. endwhich isreceived in an aperture I'Ia of the base to prevent twisting of thecarriage when it is in its lower position.

In the operation of the toaster, it will be understood that the toasterwill be connected to a suitable electrical supply source (not shown) byany suitable means such as a common twin supply conductor (not shown),When thus connected, the

' energizing circuit of the heating elements will not be completedbecause the switch contacts 55 will be open. The slices to be toastedwill then be placed through the openings in the top lBc so as to besupported by the holders IS. The knob 30 This operation will move thecarriage 20 and the slice-holders I9 to'their toasting positions, andalso will wind the clockwork mechanism due to the fact that the latch 49will engage with the abutment 48 of the winding rack 41 to move thewinding rack downwardly. When the carriage 20 reaches its toastingposition, the spring latch 31 on the bracket 32 to hold the carriagedown, and

when the pressure of the hand of the operator on the knob 3|! isreleased, the spring abutment 54 will operate to rotate the pawl 49 aspreviously described to disengage the abutment 48 on the winding rack.During this action, the spring latch 3] permits a slight upwardmovement'of the car riageZU from its position of Iiig. 5 to the positionof the pawl 49 on of Fig. 3 to release the pressure the abutment 48,thereby insuring the release oi the winding rack from the carriage '20.The clockwork mechanism thereupon will elevate the rack ,and when therack reaches its upper posi- 48 will engage the cam 4| to catch 38 todisengage the the carriage is moved upthe spring '49 pivots move it tocause the carriage, whereupon wardly to its non-toasting position by 3!.As it thus moves upwardly the latch slightly in the clockwise directionso that its end 52 can moveupwardly above the abutment 48 to positionitself for the next toasting operation. It will be understood that thedash'pot construction will cushion the upward movement of the carriageand the slice-holders.

The toaster is provided with a suitable control knob 51 for governingthe basic speed or time setting of the clockwork mechanism, and therebythe toasting interval.

In the event that the attendant wishes to release the carriage 20 andthe slice-holders l9 from the catch 38 before the timing mechanism hasoperated to release the catch 38, the knob 30 is grasped and movedupwardly slightly so as to pivot the bracket 32 about its upper edge tomove the spring latch 31 outwardly from the catch 38. This, of course,releases the bracket and carriage and permits them to move upwardly totheir nontoasting positions. It will be understood that the stop 36 willbe so positioned that the bracket is permitted to move outwardlysufiiciently far from the carriage to release the latch 31.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will beunderstood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited'thereto sincemany modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by theappended claims to cover' any such modifications as fall within the truespirit mounted for movement from a, non-toasting position to a toastingposition, means biasing said holder to said non-toasting position, amember connected to said holder to move it to said toasting position, atiming mechanism, a part of said .member engaging a part of said timingmechanism to energize it when said member is operated to move saidslice-holder to its toasting position, a resilient latch on said member,a catch engaging said latch to hold said slice-holder 'in its toastingposition, means engaging said part of said member to release said timingmechanism as said member reaches its toasting position, theresilientlatch permitting a slight movement of said member from itstoasting position towards its non-toasting position after being engagedby said engaging means to insure release of said part of said memberfrom said timing mechanism, and said timing mechanism operating torelease said catch to free said member and said slice-holder at the endof. a toasting interval.

2. An automatic toaster comprising a heating chamber, a slice-holder insaid chamber movable position to move said slice-holder to said toastingposition, a clockwork mechanism having a winding member, a pawl on saidactuating member engaging said winding member to operate it to saidactuating member moves said slice-holder to said toasting position,resilient latching means on said actuating member, a catch engaging saidlatching means to hold said slice-holder in said toasting positionagainst the force of said biasing means, means engaging said pawl tomove it to disengage said winding member when said actuating memberreaches said other position, the resilient latching means providing fora slight means biasing the holder and carriage to their non-toastingpositions, a clockwork-mechanism, means on the carriage engaging thewinding member of the clockwork mechanism to wind the clock when thecarriage is moved to lower the slice-holder to its toasting position,means operating to release said engaging means from said winding memberwhen said holder reaches the lower position to tree the clockworkmechanism to unwind, a resilient latch on said carriage, a catchengaging said latch to hold said carriage in its lower position whilesaid clockwork mechanism is unwinding and associated with said clockworkmechanism to be released thereby from said latch at the end of apredetermined interval to free said carriage and the slice-holderattached to it, said resilient latch permitting a slight upward movementof said carriage after it is engaged by said catch so as to relieve thepressure of said engaging means on said winding member.

4. A toaster comprising a heating chamber, a slice-holder in said,chamber, a vertically movable 4 carriage attached to said holder formoving the holder between a toasting position in said heating chamberand an upper non-toasting position, means biasing the holder andcarriage to their non-toasting positions, a clockwork mechanism, apivoted latch on said carriage normally in a position to engage thewinding member of said clockwork mechanism so as to wind the mechanismwhen the carriage. is moved to lower the slice-holder to its toastingposition, means engaging said latch to release the clockwork mechanismsubstantially when the holder reaches the toasting position, a resilientspring bar having one end secured to said carriage, and having itsopposite end free to flex, means limiting the i're'edom oi movement ofsaid opposite end,- and a catch engaging said 'i'ree end to hold theslice- 5. A toaster comprising a heating chamber, a slice-holder in saidchamber, a vertically movable carriage attached to said holder formoving the holder between a toasting position in said heating chamberand an upper non-toasting position, means biasing the holder andcarriage to their non-toasting positions, a clockwork mechanism, apivoted latch on said carriage normally in a position to engage thewinding member of said clockwork mechanism so as to wind the mechanismwhen the carriage is moved to lower the slice-holder to its toastingposition, a spring abutment positioned to engage said latch to releasethe clockwork mechanism substantially when the holder reaches thetoasting position, a

resilient latch mounted on said carriage, and a catch engaging saidlatch to hold the slice-holder in its toastingposition and associatedwith said clockwork mechanism so that it releases the car. riase at theend of a predetermined interval of time, said resilient latch providingfor a slight movement or said carriage toward its non-toasting positionso as to lessen the engaging pressure of said pivoted latch on saidwinding member and thereby insure the release of said pivoted iatch fromsaid clockwork mechanism.

'6. A toaster comprising a heating chamber, a slice-holder in saidheating chamber, a carriage supporting saidslice-holder mounted forvertical movement from an upper non-toasting position to a lowertoasting position, a handle for said carriage to move it to its lowertoasting position, means mounting said handle on said carriage forlimited pivotal movement, a resilient latch carried by said handle, acatch engaging said latch to hold the carriage in its lower toastingposition,

'a timing mechanism arranged to release said catch automatically at theend of a predetermined interval of time, a pawl carried by said carriagearranged to engage the winding mem'- ber 01' said clockwork mechanismwhen the car- .riage is moved to its lower position to wind theclockwork mechanism, a resilient abutment for holder in its toastingposition and associated with the clockwork mechanism so that the latteroperates it to release the carriage at the end of a predeterminedinterval of time. v

' the carriage.

engaging said pawl tore'lease it from said clockwork mechanism when thecarriage is moved to its lower toasting position, said resilient latchproviding for a slight upward movement oi said carriage aiter it-isengaged by said-catch to insure the release 01 said pawl from clockworkmechanism, and the handle "when-moved within the limitsoi' its pivotal"movement with reference to said carriage'operating'thespring latch todisengage the catchand thereby-release HARRY

